Controls.dat typically doesn't work like that. Although mame is currently in the .142's there hasn't been any significant renaming of roms as it pertains to our entires.... thus we are still on .141 for now. Sirp will update it soon I assume.

When I get around to it. As HC said, for controls.dat there are few changes. Using an "older" version of controls.dat will cover 98% of the games. The ones that won't show up properly are any where the rom name was renamed.